To break into my new neighbours house *THREAD 2*

[Catsos]

Following on from my thread yesterday https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4881905-to-break-into-new-neighbours-house-serious-question-not-trolling

to update all of the lovely people who are trying to help me rescue my cat who has got himself stuck in an unoccupied house.

Updating very shortly

Yes - both the damaged area of floor and the rug will need to be completely replaced. Potentially very costly.

The point of having a catflap is to let your own cat in and out. My understanding is that it is not unusual for strange animals (not just cats) to use them. If you own a house that you do not live in, blocking the access to the catflap is a very basic precaution.

Thing is you entered their home without their permission, so trespass at best.
And although you have all the animal lovers' understanding, it's ultimately not about the cat, it's about their rights as legal occupants.
The biggest issue is that you (correctly) contacted the police but then (incorrectly) overrode their suggestion that you cannot legally do anything.
What you did was illegal and it's not too much of a stretch to think they will be beyond furious.
I would be, and would take legal action. This is someone's home and you trespassed. That's pretty serious, it's really violating. You saw all their stuff, you know their home but they didn't invite you.

It's really in their hands how it pans out, some pp say they'd laugh at it, so you might be lucky. However if it was my home I'd have you prosecuted I'm afraid.

Please don't flame, not everyone is an animal lover, that's all. I'd have preferred you to leave the cat in there and deal with the mess later, rather than have complete strangers in my place.

I can hear the knives coming out at that already, hey ho...

D you have a B&Q nearby? Present them with this as a welcome gift https://www.diy.com/departments/dirtbusters-carpet-urine-cleaner-odour-treatment-for-all-carpets-upholstery-1l-/0709998120775_BQ.prd?ds_rl=1272379&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1L7gitT_gAMVI4hQBh3IKw6TEAQYBCABEgLnjPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Dont suppose you have a carpet washer, do you?

Lots of us have read both entire threads as entertainment.

OP doesn't seem to read much of them, even when they are full of advice for her situation.

Did she check whether or not the cat had access to water?

If not, has the cat gone to a vet?

Half an hour and a notebook and this situation is unlikely to have played out the way it has.

DUCT TAPE THE FLAP SHUT

I can't remember the last time a cat has been bothered because 'something has been placed in front.'

A bird feeder has a wide base. I'm not sure how it will stop OP's cat from going back in.

The builder, who was clearly the assigned keyholder, invited her in, and by doing so prevented any more damage to their house. Damage caused by the owners' negligence in not blocking the access point.

Are we to imagine cats that could shrug a concrete block aside, or wriggle past a couple of bricks in the mouth of the access tunnel? They can be persistent little monsters, but it's perfectly possible to exclude them.

So glad your cat has been rescued. I’ve been checking in with your posts over the last few days. Let’s hope they are reasonable and understanding neighbours. 🤞

I think you need to greet them with bottle of wine. I hope they're lovely people and mused by the whole thing. Most relieved the troublemaker has been released!

But op said she used a bird feeder to block access. Not bricks or blocks.

The open tabs on the laptop has officially finished me off 🤣🤣🤣 I'm starting a new job tomorrow and this has been such a brilliant distraction from the nerves. Sorry OP, I know it's been very stressful for you

I think more than a bottle of wine is needed. As pp have said you have left crab sticks lying out in their new home for what will be a couple of days likely resulting in a fishy smell that will be in the air, cat wee has seeped into their wooden floor which will be a nightmare to sort and a (possibly expensive rug) is ruined

Please OP don’t go over all cutesy to your new neighbours saying you will never believe what my little cat did hahaha! If they take it in good faith after an explanation fair enough you can all laugh about it, but don’t automatically assume they will think it’s a cute story

You would be paying for a brand new rug if you were my neighbour.

I would not accept a cleaning. Cat piss lingers and it stinks. Your animal has damaged their property.

I would be absolutely fuming and you can bet I would make life as difficult as possible going forward.

The damage could still have been caused if they lived there, they could have been out for the day with the cat trapped from morning.

Great diagram! But what happens if your cat pees or leaves a dead rodent in the middle bit of the tunnel? Can you access the whole thing?

Indeed, and she should not have had to that in order to protect her cat from further harm. It was the owners' job to secure their property

I'm glad you got your cat out.

Did you not think to get the phone number for the owners from the builder so you could call and explain what has happened? If this was my house I'd be absolutely fuming and even more so if you hadn't contacted me to explain all the damage, cat urine and (now rotting) crab sticks in my new house. It will be quite the shock when they get there. And it will absolutely reek.

It turns out the chimney sweep brush head that is too small for the flue (wider diameter flue than was used for the cat-pipework) fits rather nicely and is flexible enough...

Still a bit of a fiddle but easier than when the cat was just delivered to the hole under the stairs and had a big but totally inaccessible area to leave inside out empty rabbit skins to fester... Resident cat doesn't really hang around in the pipework anyway as theres not really enough room for mouse munching - he leaves his left-overs under the dining room table!

@Catsos Glad to hear cat is out, he's a very pretty boy! Hopefully new neighbours are intending to re - dec and whats currently in there is old stuff anyway (I can't imagine why you would move a new expensive rug to a property you do not live in but the builders are working in...).

Thread 3 may well be about problems with the builders.

Surely it’s the cat owner’s job to secure THEIR property i.e. the cat?

So basically are you saying that none of the OPs neighbours should have cat flaps for their own cats then unless they are willing to accept the possible risk from OPs cat of breaking in and causing damage because the OP isn't liable in any way?

Leave her own number. Not be given private details.

She should at least text the builder about the crab sticks.

Oh OP. I'm so glad that your cat is okay, that's the important thing. Let's hope that the owners have a sense of humour, maybe you will become friends and you'll be telling this origin story for years. I'd buy them a bottle of wine or some flowers if you can.

Oh god 🙈 just when I think I can’t get anymore embarrassed.

I’m glad the posts have helped keep you distracted, good luck for tomorrow & congratulations on the new job 🤗 🎉

I’m dreading tomorrow, I hadn’t posted this as I was getting absolutely flamed and it was stressing me out but late last night I went back to the house and poked some thinly sliced honey roasted ham through the bathroom window air vent as I panicked after reading cats can die from some toxic shock if they don’t eat for 48 hours 😭 so i’ve got to tell the new neighbours about that too. Never been more embarrassed in my life